Making it legal
The week's news at a glance.
London
Britain’s legalization of civil partnerships for gay couples went into force this week, and hundreds of people lined up to get hitched. The partnerships offer gays most of the same benefits that married, heterosexual couples enjoy, including rights to a spouse’s pension and tax breaks on inherited real estate. Among the first couples to register were Sir Elton John and his longtime partner, filmmaker David Furnish. The two will conduct their partnership ceremony in the same venue where Prince Charles and Camilla got married.
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